The wording of the upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage has been published by the Government.

It proposes to add to the Constitution a declaration that “marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex”.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said the wording is clear and precise, and gives a right to every citizen who wishes to get married.

The minister said that she believes the referendum is a recognition of the increasing acceptance of people of different sexual orientation.

She said that an informed debate will lead to an opportunity to discuss issues further.

Minister Fitzgerald said the referendum would be about marriage equality, while the proposed Children and Family Relationships Bill was about ensuring children in different family types have equal protection before the law.

With just one day left to register for the upcoming marriage referendum in 2015, we asked Ted O’Connell from Loafers, for a few words on Marriage Equality:

“I was married once. We had lived together for a while beforehand. I wasn’t really convinced at the time that marriage was all that important. After all, we were in love, weren’t we? However..

I still remember the day we did get married. Everything changed. We were a unit. We were united. We were legitimized, accepted automatically by everyone, friends, family, and, yes, society, It really made an impression on me at the time. It solidified a relationship that went on to buy a house together, have 2 beautiful daughters, to make a difference.

The fact that I later came out as a gay man isn’t even relevant. That was between my ex-wife and I.

The point is that marriage is important. Gay marriage is important. People, gay or straight, deserve the same validation, should they choose to seek it. And that is an important point. Some lgbti people don’t want to choose it, which is absolutely their right.

What I am saying is that marriage equality matters. It says a lot about who we are as a society. Nobody loses if we are free to marry the person we love.”

Cork has three representatives for this year’s Mr Gay Ireland Final. We caught up with one of them, Ciarán Ó Corcráin who won the title of Mr Loafers.

Where and when were you born?
I’m a Tipperary boy, born November 7th 1987.

Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
I live with my partner of 3 and a half years, John, in Shandon, Cork city. It’s a little house on a quiet street, small but big enough for us! I love hearing the Shandon bells go off throughout the day, strangely reassuring!

What is your occupation?
I’m a hotel receptionist in Topperary; I’ve been working in the same hotel for the last 7 years, and have sampled most departments of the place at this stage. Really enjoy working there; I know the place like the back of my hand. Last year, for 2 months, I was one of Santa’s elves, which was possibly THE most fun I’ve ever had at work!

What do you have in your pockets?
Mobile phone, wallet, keys, asthma inhaler, half a packet of chewing gum, lip balm

What was the last song you sang when no one else was around?
Drunk in Love by Beyonce

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a teacher. Every so often I consider going back to college to train, maybe some day!

When and with whom was your first kiss?
Oh I don’t want to embarrass her! But it was with a close friend!

Who has had the most influence on you?
I’d have to say my parents. I’m very like my mother.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
It doesn’t sound huge, but quitting smoking. I did it cold turkey, with no slip ups, so I’m pretty proud of that!

What things are most important to you now? Why?
Friends, it’s so easy to drift apart, I think it’s important to make time.

Who do you trust and depend on?
I’m very independent, it’s not that I don’t trust people, just prefer to do it myself.

Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
I can be a bit of a pessimist, but there’s a silver lining to every situation.

Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
I’m going to get in trouble for saying this! But I don’t think that there’s just one person in the world for everyone. What are the odds? (There’s the pessimist coming out in me!)

What do you believe makes a successful life?
Good health, and the support of your loved ones

What is your favourite kind of music?
I listen to anything really, bit of a pop princess though

What scares you?
Recently found out that I have a big fears of rats. I saw one and literally wanted to sit in the corner and cry. Didn’t expect that at all.

Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs, I give great hugs!

Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
I don’t think I could name just one, there’s so many influential people in my life. I get such support and love from my friends and family.

How close are you to your family?
Close enough, closest to my sister. Even though we mightn’t see each from one end of the week to the other, we’d be texting all the time

Do you care what others think of you?
Nope, not a bit. I have a tattoo saying “Seo mar atáim”, which would translate to “This is how I am”, so take me or leave me!

What is your most treasured possession?
My hair, haha! Although I’d be lost without my phone.

How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
I enjoy a night in at home as much as a night out. So either chilling in front of the tv with a bottle of wine, and a nice fire going, or out for a couple drinks with friends, catching up, sometimes some dancing involved!

What makes you laugh?
The most ridiculous things, my jokes are the most stupid ones going.

What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
Dealing with the public everyday amazes me how some people can e so rude. Manners cost absolutely nothing.

Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
Definitely a planner.

Do you like to dance?
With a couple of drinks in me, I love to dance. Can I dance? That’s a completely different question!

Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
Depending on my roster, I’m either travelling from Cork to Tipperary for work, or staying with my parents, so it can vary. But usually up early, in work for 8, finish up at 4ish, head to the gym for a while, back to Cork usually just before 7. Rustle up something for dinner (I love cooking), then collapse on the couch for a while!

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’m pretty happy with my lot, but if I had to change one thing, I’d be more decisive.

Are you generally organized or messy?
I think I have a bit of OCD. When I walk into my house in the evening, before my jacket is even off, I have to straighten everything up, everything has it’s specific place, and I can’t relax until they’re right. But my bedroom can be an absolute state!

Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
Good: making people laugh, multitasking, and I make a great cup of tea
Bad: making decisions, saying “no” to people, getting out of bed in the morning!

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?
No huge plans or dreams, just to take every day as it comes! To paraphrase the musical Rent: Live life as if there’s no day but today

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Possibly married, provided the referendum passes next year, important everyone votes. Would like to have progressed at work, have a nice house, maybe a little dog! Simple stuff!

What three words best describe your personality?
Zany, patient, friendly

What three words would others probably use to describe you?
Witty, hair, smart

If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
Timmy. It’s what everyone at work (including myself) calls me anyway, since the very first day I started! I felt it was easier to embrace it!

What do you do for fun?
Spend time with friends, doesn’t really matter what, although it usually involves pints!

What do you do most often when you are bored?
I get very fidgety when I’m bored! Really annoys anyone I’m in company with.

What is something that you are really proud of and why?
Quitting smoking earlier this year is probably the thing I’m most proud of in life. Winning Mr Loafers was a big achievement too.

Why did you enter Mr Loafers 2014/15?
The LGBT community is always there in the background ready to offer support, so I wanted to give something back to the community, get more involved. On a more personal level, I’m a very shy person, so wanted to challenge myself by putting myself out there, and getting up on stage in front of people.

How does it feel to be Mr Loafers 2014/15?
Fantastic! Loafers is such a treasured establishment, so I feel really honoured to represent the bar.

Any ideas / plans to make you stand out in the upcoming Mr Gay Ireland final in Dublin?
I’m just going to be myself and enjoy the final!

Finally is there anything else you like to say?
I just hope that I do Loafers and Cork proud, while raising money. Kevin and Bryan are two great participants also, so hopefully the title can come to Cork!

Cork is about to get a new club starting on Wednesday the 10th of September. We caught up with the people behind the club to ask questions which were suggested by our readers.

So, where is the club itself? What venue will it be using?

The club itself is located on Marlboro Street just above Clancy’s Bar, adjacent to both Oliver Plunkett Street and South Mall. It’s a great venue that allows us to offer our customers a really great experience in our lounge, dance floor or rooftop cocktail bar. Whether you’re coming Home for drinks with friends, a date or you just want to dance we’re here for you.

We noticed on your FB page you used the term “queer club”, can you tell us more as to why you used that term? Do you envisage it as a LGBT club or LGBT friendly?

We reject “LGBT Friendly” and will instead say we’re just being decent human beings. LGBT friendly implies that it’s permissible to be homo/bi/transphobic if there’s a “friendly” alternative. We chose queer because everyone is that little bit queer in either their sexuality or just because they’re weird.

That’s what Home is about; being yourself in an environment where nobody actually cares. You’ve heard the phrase “Do what you want in the privacy of your own home”? That’s what we’re doing.

What night(s) of the week will you operate? If only Wednesday, would you ever plan to do a weekend night?

We’re opening on Wednesday the 10th every Wednesday after that. There is considerable scope to expand into weekends but it’s not something we’re going to do unless we are certain we can do it better than any other venue.

Will there be an entry fee? What is/is there the age limit? What is the door policy?

Our cover charge is €4 and our door policy is simple; if we think you’re going to be an asshole we’re not going to let you in. Thankfully there aren’t too many in Cork.

Anybody over the age of 18 is more than welcome. We accept that people will be pre-drinking before hand and we’re fine with that. We don’t have a dress code, we don’t have any policies that will deter people from coming Home. We started Home so that people can have fun in an atmosphere that’s inclusive and actually fun.

What hours do you hope to operate?

We will be operating from 10:30pm to 2:00am for the club.

What will the drink selection/prices be like? Will there be drink promotions?

We’ve a great bar stocked with every staple drink of a night out. We’re keeping our prices a secret for a little while but we can say that people are going to wonder how we make money.

(Tuesday Update: Drink prices have since been revealed)

What music genre will be at the club? What DJ’s will you have?

A lot of our music genres will be based on the club scenes of Amsterdam and Berlin with a lot of contemporary chart stuff. There’s going to be something for every taste. When I told a friend of mine I was opening a club they advised that there should always be one song that cleared the dance floor either because it was just plain crap or because nobody had heard of it before.

We’ll have our own twist in that we’ll play to the crowd but won’t play it safe.

What kind of seating will there be in the venue? For those who smoke, will it be heated/covered from rain?

Well there’ll be the traditional chairs with four legs and soft padding along with our massive couches around coffee tables. Our lux lounge is walled seating with its own pretty cool atmosphere that’s very suited to helping our customers get to know each other better.

As for smokers, we’ve literally got them covered as our smoking area is walled, roofed, heated, lit and it has a bar.

Do you think there is room for another LGBT club on the Cork scene?

It’s not a LGBT club; it’s a queer club. And while people may not think there’s a difference there is; one is exclusionary and it’s not ours. Gay, straight, male, female and anyone in between those is more than welcome at Home.

We talk with Darren Betts, whom recently has just started a writing blog called “Life in Cork.”

Tell us about yourself?

Hi there, my name s Darren Betts. I am originally from Essex but have been living in Ireland for the past 23 years. I’m from a small village just outside Tralee in Kerry.
I am a huge tech head and love all new ideas and technical creations. I’m big into social media such as instagram, twitter and Facebook.

I have a keen interest in cars and the celebrity goings on. I have just started a personal training course with the amazing guys in Dennehy’s fitness.

What inspired you to blog about (gay) life in Cork?

After coming out of a relationship I wanted to do something different with my life. We all have a story to tell and I thought it’s about time I share mine. I moved to Cork about three years ago and fell in love with the place. For the first time in my life I could be me.

The website started as just a blog, but then I thought I could turn it into something more. Cork has a story to tell and as someone who hasn’t lived here all their life, I have a strong appreciation for the city and I wanted to share it.

What do you hope to achieve with your blog musings?

To be honest I want the website to promote the city and highlight how amazing it is and how accepting it is to all different walks of life. The gay community is amazing here and I thought it would be great to highlight it in way other blogs and websites don’t.

I want it to be a view of the city and the gay way of life from someone who was never raised in a city and came from rural Ireland. I hope I can achieve this and also highlight how easy and hard it can be for a person in Ireland who is gay and hopefully help them in some way to be happy and comfortable.

What topics do hope to cover in your blog?

Well as mentioned I want to highlight how this amazing city has helped me become the person I am. I do want to stay away from the political side of Gay life. I want to cover not only the Gay bars but also the gay friendly bars. I also want to highlight places of interest that is not directly linked to being a member of the LGBT community, as I have visited many places here in Cork and found them all to be amazing.

I also want to try to promote Cork on a Global scale and show them that we are not a secondary city to Dublin.

What does the LGBT community mean to you?

The LGBT community is one of the most accepting and fantastic communities to be apart of. One thing I want to highlight in my website. I can’t thank the community enough for helping me accept me.

I have made some life long friends through the LGBT community and these friends have been there through tough times and great times. It’s a testament to how amazing the LGBT community here is. And one thing I cannot stress enough is that if there are people out there afraid of accepting that they may be gay, the community here in Cork will welcome you with open arms.

What do you like about Cork?

What’s not to like? It’s a vibrant young city. The nightlife is second to none. I have yet to witness a fight on the street and in today’s world that’s a feat in its own right. There is also amazing places to visit in and outside the City. From places like The Comedy Club to Kinsale and everything in-between. I tend to look at the City from a tourists perspective when I walk around and am amazing at how wonderful the place truly is.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I would just like to say a huge thank you to the people who have visited the site already and the bars and businesses who have gotten behind me on this. I would also like to say to the LGBT community here in Cork I will do you all proud.

Chris who now lives in Canada but is originally from Cork, struggled for many years with his sexuality before finally coming out to his family. He then come out to his friends and the rest of the world, by making a heartfelt post on Facebook.

How has your life been for you since you came out on Facebook?

Honestly? It’s been awesome! Mentally I’m much happier and in a better place – that’s really the only difference though. I’m not treated any differently by anyone which was one of my biggest fears. Had I known how this would all unravel, I would have done it years ago. It’s really opened my eyes to Ireland’s attitude, compared to how I previously thought.

Why did you come out on Facebook?

There’s a few reasons. I wanted to kill all the birds with one stone. I was sick of lying. I couldn’t keep up with the two lives I had. I wrote the letter so my friends and family would understand a little of what I went through for years. Why I lied, why I stayed away from them. In a way, I wanted to ‘humanize’ it – show them that it was not a choice I made, it is who I am and it is natural. I wanted to liberate myself and I felt posting the letter would do so, which it did.

Where in Cork do you hail from?

I hail from the North side of the city.

How old were you when you realised you were gay?

I realised at a very young that I was gay. I was around 9 years old when I started having feelings I could not comprehend. I remember getting a book on puberty and reading that my feelings may be a phase – I figured it was just that. I was probably around 12 or 13 when I knew for sure that I was gay or this ‘phase’ is going on a lot longer than the book said it would! ha!

In your Facebook post you mention about being surrounded by oppression. Can you tell us more about that?

When growing up, society perpetuated various gay stereotypes which I could not identify with. In Ireland you’re taught at a very young age, that your supposed to be with someone of the opposite sex and have x amount of kids. When you come of age and the thoughts in your head don’t match this preconceived idea so you start thinking there’s something wrong with you. You grow up hearing homophobic remarks. However small and unimportant they may seem to the person saying it – they have a huge effect on the person who is struggling internally with these feelings. With that, I created this negative image of myself and carried the mental weight of it with me for years. I had an internal struggle and refused point-blank to let me be me.

Homophobia is a big topic in Ireland at the moment, did you experience/witness it during your time growing up here?

For sure! I witnessed it and also experienced it – especially in secondary school. I never witnessed any physical bullying because someone was gay but I had on many occasions witnessed name calling etc. The thing is, terms like ‘fag’ and ‘queer’ are being used as an insult for almost anything these days. It’s as common as ‘idiot’ or ‘langer’. It’s becoming second nature to some without realizing what a negative term it actually is. This needs to stop – more awareness is needed.

When you were in Ireland were you aware of the many support options that were available?

I knew of only one. I’m not sure of the name but it was located near Washington Street. I never actively searched for support during my time in the closet – I was too afraid in case someone recognised me etc. I had to accept and be comfortable with who I was first, before I could seek support.

Are you involved on the gay community in Canada, do you go out on the scene there?

I’m not involved yet. I plan to be though. I do enjoy volunteering so hopefully I can get involved in some way! I have been on the scene a couple of times. Not sure if it’s really my thing or not – time will tell I guess. Its the middle of winter here in Toronto so I’m sure it’ll pick up once the Spring comes.

Tell us more about the man in your life, who “rescued me from the storm”.

Jaysus! Do I have a character limit on this one? lol. We met one Summer night last year, at exactly 8:03pm. I remember the exact time because I had just looked at my phone when I first saw him. We just got on really well from the beginning. He’s an amazing guy! He’s a caring, great looking guy who just so happens to be very talented! – He’s a very well-known photographer here in Toronto! He brings out the best in me and stood by me every step of the way throughout this process. He’s definitely a rare catch!

We also heard you were on the Joe Duffy radio show recently. What was that like for you?

It was definitely a nerve-racking experience. It was one thing to post a letter to family and friends on Facebook – it’s completely different story when you go on national radio and announce it to the world how you struggled for years. It has been great though! I’ve had people contact me through Facebook, thanking me for posting my letter as they are in the same situation I was in and fortunately it has given them hope, where they had none before. Just hearing that I helped someone has definitely made this whole process worthwhile! (See here for a link to the interview)

What advice would you give to someone who may be currently in the same position as you were?

Nobody should be unhappy hiding because they fear how others will react. Life is too short for that. Do it when you’re ready.. not when you think others are ready to hear it. If anyone does have a problem with you, then it’s their problem. Whatever is going through your head, it’s never as bad as you think. I know that now. Yes, I had a pleasant experience when I came out but I’m not going to sugar coat it, you may face some rejection or ridicule at some point of your life but stay true to yourself, it will get better.

Finally is there anything else you like to say?

Thank you Jonathan for giving me the opportunity to share my story . I do hope this can be some bit of comfort to those who struggle with their sexuality like I did – The moral of my story is – ‘It’s never as bad as the negative thoughts in your head, make it out to be – not even close!’

Below is a copy of Chris’s coming out post on Facebook:

So I’ve been sitting here for the last 2 hours wondering how I’ll start this off. I keep asking myself what is scaring me? Is it the potential whispers? Will I be treated differently? Accepted? Rejected? Where do I begin – from the beginning I suppose..

Growing up isn’t easy but when you know, at a very young age that you’re ‘different’, different from societies norm – it’s especially difficult. Although I never stood out, I knew I didn’t fit in either. It wasn’t until I was a young teen that I understood why. Ever since, I’ve always had this guard over me. I went from a happy go lucky child to a teen/adult who became cagy. It was hard, I was surrounded by the oppression that was my life.

There were many mixed emotions over the next couple of years. I cried, got angry with God, I got angry with myself. I constantly asked myself ‘Why me?’, ‘Was I a bad person?’. I prayed this punishment would have mercy on me. I screamed so loud asking for an explanation but no one could hear me. I continued to live in the shadows, I’d sit all alone in a faceless crowd, afraid in case I said the wrong thing, moved the wrong way so questions wouldn’t be asked.

I remember when I was in 4th year, one of my teachers commented that every time she saw me, she cheered up or smiled because I was always happy and constantly smiling, no matter what was going on – little did she know, it was a pasted smile that left, once I was alone. This defines my life up to now – I hid. I hid behind a smile, I hid behind a lie. This all might sound a bit dramatic, but just remember the expression ‘walk a mile in my shoes’, before you criticize. This is not an easy thing.

It wasn’t always doom and gloom, life went on, I was able to put it at the back of my mind at times. I turned my focus to other things, friends, school, college, work, volunteering etc but it was still hard, constant reminders, ridicule of others in the same situation and of course, the close minded Irish mentality that still exists ensured I’d only step out of the shadows for a little bit.

I needed to get out of Ireland, the recession was the perfect excuse. So I packed my bags and moved to Canada in 2012. While I adjusted, almost immediately to Canadian life, I was still hollow, I still carried the guilt and shame with me. I had run away from my family, my friends and more importantly, myself.

Fast forward to last Summer. Something happened to me this Summer that would change my approach and outlook on the future. One Summer evening, at 8:03pm, I met somebody. An amazing person who understood me. We spent weekend upon weekend with each other. I began to ask myself what this feeling was inside? I asked myself why my stomach danced when they smiled or what made me light up as I watched their eyes dance as I made them laugh. There was no negotiating with this feeling – It felt right and contrary to what I felt inside for years, It felt natural. This person became the shelter that rescued me from the storm. This person showed me that I do not need to hold my head bent in shame as there is nothing to be ashamed about. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to this person for helping me be me. For the first time in a very long time, I was Chris. I was happy. I smiled when I was alone.

Even though I finally stopped hiding from myself. I was still lying to everyone else. I guess you could say they became victims of the situation I had created for myself. I had a double life that was eating away at me – mentally I wasn’t strong enough to mix the two so I stayed away from friends and ignored calls and texts from family. I preferred this new life as I was happy. That wasn’t enough, I needed to consolidate them. I started the process. I flew half way across Canada to visit a close friend and decided to just do it! I unburdened my heart to them. As happy as I was to finally talk to someone about it, I found little relief, mainly because I knew this person was extremely open minded. I needed to challenge myself and punch that shark – so with supportive shoulders to lean on, I called my mother a week or so later. At first I couldn’t talk, my throat closed up. I was unable to say the words but I sobbed uncontrollably as they left my mouth. I grieved for them as they were locked inside this cage for so many years but now they were free. I will never forget my mother’s reply as she sighed with relief. ‘Thats it? I thought you were going to tell me you were sick’ and with those few simple words, the weight I had carried with me for so long, lifted. I knew it was ok. I was free. That night, I slept throughout the night, something I had not done in a very long time.

I don’t know what the future holds or what will happen now that this is step is taken, I keep asking myself who will be stand by me? Who will bail on me during big steps in my life? Who will reject or ridicule me? What I am sure about is that I don’t need these people in my life. I’ve hated myself for long enough so I don’t need it from anyone else. Enough is enough. It’s time to rebuild. Am I scared? Like you wouldn’t believe but that’s alright. I no longer have big secrets that will erode who I am. No more hiding.

My mother summed it perfectly for me. ‘Nothings changed. You are still Chris, You are the kindest, most genuine, empathic, generous, loving son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend I know. What is there to be ashamed about? The only thing you are guilty of is falling in love.’

She was right! At the end of the day, It all came down to love. It turns out that this person who I fell in love with, who helped me discover me, just happens to be a man.

My name is Adrian. I’m 32 from Togher, Cork and I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been working in Meteor for six years and I still love my job.In my spare time I love to spend time with my amazing niece and nephew. The loves of my life is my puppy Harper and my friends who I love going out with.

Why are you entering Mr Gay Cork 2014?
I competed in Mr Gay Ireland in 2011 and came second and I’d really like to be the first to bring the title to Cork. The New Fill project is something I feel really strongly about and being Mr.Gay Cork/Chambers would give the platform I need to raise money for this amazing charity.

What does the LGBT community mean to you?
I came out at 13 and I didn’t have the support then that I needed but now I have a strong network of friends within the LGBT community that are always there to support each other.

If you win, how do you envisage putting your title to use within the local community?
I plan to use the short time I’d have to do as much fundraising as possible which is great because it also means more nights out. lol.

I also want to raise awareness about The New Fill project because I feel many people within and outside of the LGBT community do not know enough about this charity which is doing such fantastic work and it is the essentially what Mr Gay Ireland is about.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Feisty, dedicated, passionate.

Tell us something that no one else knows about you?
There’s a video called G G Generator on Youtube of me dancing in my boxers drunk – which nearly got us kicked out of the hotel!

And finally is there anything else you’d like to say?
I want to say best of luck to everybody competing this year and let’s make Mr Gay Cork/Chambers 2014 the one to remember.

Well my name is Kevin O’ Brien, I’m 22 and from the Dublin Hill area. I’ve worked in retail for the last 5 years but am hoping to further my education in Marketing & P.R come September. (fingers crossed) I’d like to think of myself as the social type because I love going out and meeting new people, but be warned I could end up burning the ear off you once I start chatting. ha!

I tend to keep myself busy all the time but of course when I do get a spare minute I enjoy lazing around and watching trash tv, nothing like a bit of Towie (The Only Way Is Essex) to keep you entertained. 😛

Why are you entering Mr Gay Cork 2014?

To be honest, I’ve attended the competition in previous years and I’ve always had a great time but never had the confidence to actually put myself forward for it. As time has gone on my group of close friends have expanded and my family has shown more support than ever, so knowing that I have that behind me is all the confidence I need.

At the end of the day this event is such a big part of our community, not only is it bringing us all together as a group, it also supports a great cause. All proceeds from the night will be donated to The New Fill Project in Dublin which is a charity set up to help and support people suffering from HIV/Aids. Being able to say that I’m a part of the bigger picture behind it all is a reward in itself and certainly makes all the preparation and rehearsing worth while.

What does the LGBT community mean to you?

For me I would have to say that the LGBT community means home. Coming out at such a young age I was terrified, I had no clue what would happen or where my life was going to go from it? That year I witnessed my first ever Pride Parade, the sense of community, acceptance and sheer craziness was enough to put my mind at ease and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Going through the years since then, I’ve met some of the most amazing people and every one of them with a smile on their face. Still to this day every year when Pride Week comes around I’m mesmerised by the sense of community and friendship displayed throughout the cafes, bars and clubs. People who may have never met becoming friends in an instant, the LGBT community means openness, kindness, it means everything to me.

If you win, how do you envisage putting your title to use within the local community?

If I was to win Mr Gay Cork 2014, I’d try my best to use the title to bring the community even closer. I’d like to be a role modal to those who need or want one. I would make it a mission to raise awareness and support for our community and the battles we face.

For the many people before us that have stood and fought to get us the luxury’s we have today. I feel it’s now our turn to do that for the generations to come after us. We’ve been blessed with opportunity and I would like to use that to take us one step forward and show people that it is appreciated. Of course there will be a few mad nights out thrown in there also 😛 ha! Can’t have all work and no fun, so I have a few ideas up my sleeve.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

ehh, ha! I would like to think of myself as friendly, approachable and passionate. I don’t know what anyone else would say but I’d hope it would be along those lines. lol!

Tell us something that no one else knows about you?

That’s a difficult one, a drop of drink in me and I’m an open book. ha! Seriously though there isn’t a lot to tell, It’s pretty much ‘what you see is what you get’ with me. I’m not as confident as I come across but like I said anyone that meets me on a Saturday night knows that. 😛

And finally is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to send a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has supported me for this competition, it means so much to me and honestly it was shock to my system the amount shown so again thank you!

Also thanks to you Jonathan for this interview and the opportunity to give people a better insight to who I am and what I’m about.I hope everyone can make it and show support to all the lads on the night, it’s not going to be easy but its sure going to be entertaining.

Well I’m just an outgoing person who loves to make people laugh. I tend to think there’s no better feeling than knowing you put a smile on someone’s face 🙂

Why are you entering Mr Gay Cork 2014?

I entered Mr Gay Cork because I feel I could make a change and be a great person to represent Cork in this year’s Mr Gay Ireland. I love any chance to show people all the different sides to me 🙂

What does the LGBT community mean for you?

The LGBT means to me is that you don’t have to fit a certain stereotype to be accepted. You are free to be who you truly are and that you have the freedom to love who you want to love.

If you win, how do you envisage putting your title to use within the local community?

If I’m lucky enough to win Mr Gay Cork it would give me the chance to help gay youth because there is a lot of bullying going on and it seems to be worse on kids in the LGBT Community. So I would try and set up a youth group so they have a place to feel safe and accepted for who they really are 🙂

Describe yourself in 3 words.

In three words I would say I’m loyal, caring and very opinionated – which can be a good and bad thing all at once 🙂

Tell us something that no one else knows about you?

Well I’m always an open book I’m very honest but I have an obsession with Drag Queens! I find them amazing and hilarious, they just don’t have a care and love what they do, which I find amazing.

And finally is there anything else you’d like to say?

Well I would like to thank you for this interview and I want people to know in just like any other 21-year-old who is just loving life at the moment.

If I won Mr Gay Cork it would make this year amazing and I hope people would come and support me and the amazing charity. All the proceeds made on the night will be donated to The New Film Project at St James Hospital Dublin and the other lads and myself will also be raising money with sponsorship cards for The Sexual Health Centre Here in Cork.

I’m 25, from Ballydehob in West Cork and I work in the Hospitality and Catering sector. I’m into running, cycling and swimming – love to exercise and eat right. I’m also a big movie buff and I love going to the cinema to watch movies.

Why are you entering Mr Gay Cork 2014?

I’m entering Mr. Gay Cork for a bit of fun, really! Always thought it’d be a fun experience to enter and see how far I could get – Haha!

What does the LGBT community mean for you?

The LGBT community means quite a lot for me. Being a young gay guy isn’t easy and is definitely not a walk in the park. LGBT is a place where I can go to find liberation and freedom. A life without out the community would definitely be a lot less fun, that’s for sure!

If you win, how do you envisage putting your title to use within the local community?

I see myself putting the title to good use. I’d raise funds for great causes and try to help out as many of the people in need of someone to talk to about any issues they may be having in their life.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

In three words I’d say I’m energetic, creative and marvellous!

Tell us something that no one else knows about you?

Something that nobody else knows about me, hmmm…Well if I told that I would have to kill you ! – Haha

And finally is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to say thanks so much to everyone involved in this year’s competition. You all know who you are!